As one of the most profitable franchises in gaming, The Sims is beloved by millions. Yet, this success story began from humble beginnings, becoming one of the most iconic David vs Goliath tales in video game history.
Initially set to be Sega's secret weapon in the war against Nintendo, Sonic is a title that drastically altered the home console market in the 1990s. Find out how the meteoric rise of the franchise would alter the gaming landscape forever.
Now synonymous with blockbuster titles, Rockstar North began as a humble indie Scottish developer. We trace their journey from small beginnings to becoming one of the industry's titans, shocking the world repeatedly with the GTA series.
In an era when mascots could make or break gaming franchises, Spyro the Dragon soared above and beyond his competitors, becoming a treasured icon for a generation of gamers.
In an industry where tech advancements are make or break Nintendo took a risk with the Wii. In this episode, we track the console's development and how its tie-in game, Wii Sports, helped it become one of the most successful consoles ever.
Hailed as one of the most important horror games, Silent Hill profoundly impacted gamers and the industry. We explore this landmark title, which changed the perception of psychological games and left a lasting mark on the horror genre.
Few games have caused as much stir as CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3, but its road to success was long. In this episode, we cover how two entrepreneurs built the most valuable video game development team in Europe.
There is no gaming mascot more ingrained in pop-culture than Namco's golden child, Pac Man. On this episode we'll be covering how this yellow disc took over the world, and became the figurehead for a golden age of arcade gaming.
Sony's PlayStation 2 became the dream gift for millions, spawning beloved franchises. Created by Insomniac Games, Ratchet and Clank aimed to innovate with its unique style, helping it become a celebrated franchise that has spanned decades.
If you've ever held a touchscreen phone, you've likely experienced the zany fun of Angry Birds. We follow a group of Finnish game developers and explore how they built one of the world's most successful multimedia companies.
Bursting out of France in the 1990s, Rayman helped shape Ubisoft into the industry titan it is today. In this episode we explore how the ingenuity of a young developer led to the creation of one of the most popular platformers of all time.
From laying siege to fortresses to exploring new worlds, Age of Empires has let players dive into history for decades. In this episode, we recount how one of the most iconic strategy games came to be.
Shoot, kill, loot, repeat - the mantra of loot-shooter games everywhere. We dive into the title that kickstarted the genre, and has amassed legions of fans as one of the most unique series in gaming history.
The gun-toting ladies man Duke Nukem exploded onto gamer's screens in the early 90s, and after a stint of popularity, he became the centrefold for one of the most controversial development sagas in video games history.
Spinning onto our screens in the 90s, Crash became a mainstay for kids all around the world. It's fiendish traps, extravagant level design and quirky humour became an instant classic, born from an unlikely origins story.
As a figuremark title in gaming, Half-Life set a new benchmark in the world of FPS games. From Valve's unrelenting perfectionism, to blackmail attempts from international hackers, the tale of one of gamings most adorned titles has it all.
A game that did the impossible - it made The Phantom Menace fun. Since its inception, Lego Star Wars turned the film-to-game strategy on its head, and began a franchise of some of the most revered family friendly titles to date.
This is the story of how one man went from selling baked beans to creating fantastical worlds. Love him or hate him, Peter Molyneux built a robust franchise with Fable, filled with highs, lows, and a turbulent development process.
Smash a block, place a block - two simple actions that created one of the most popular games of all time. Minecraft became the brainchild of one man, whose ambition and game sense created a global cultural phenomenon.
As the only game shortlisted for the Smithsonian as a work of art, BioShock is filled with accolades. A title that aimed to transcend being "just a game," it challenged every aspect of game development and became a cult hit.
What happens when you take an indie studio with a couple of games to their name, and parade them in front of millions of gamers with the most ambitious video game concept ever? You get a darn interesting Origin story - that's what.
